Stepping Outside My Comfort Zone, 03.2019

Hey girlsies,

Thanks for joining me for another edition of Stepping Outside My Comfort Zone. This month, there’s one big way I S T R E T C H E D myself in March but want to give it a post all it’s own. It might even take 2 posts to do it justice. So, for today, I will just share a couple of little things I did that had me venturing outside the box this month.

Here’s what I gained from last month’s stretch beyond my comfort zone:

Received inspiration from the message of guest speaker Wendy Treat.

Made 2 new friends.

Took time to think about and work on a vision board.

Purchased a book that I will be using in my morning quiet time that I might not otherwise have discovered.

Don’t you agree, that’s quite the return on my investment venturing into something a little unfamiliar and scary.

Stepping Outside My Comfort Zone, 03.2019

Staged a Silent Protest

If we’ve been blog buds for any length of time, you are at least somewhat familiar with our pool troubles. We had an in-ground pool built in 02.2017 and before the pool was even filled with water, we began having issues…with equipment, electricity, gas, the pergola, and our deck concrete and pool plaster. I could write a book.

We hired a lawyer and he turned out to be a total incompetent. And now we can’t afford to hire another. On, and on, and on this goes. I won’t bore you with more details other than to say I am in touch with a TV station, the BBB, other pool owners, and the El Paso Department of Planning and Inspections trying to get help. And a few weeks ago, after sitting at city hall for a bit and then at the BBB, I bought a neon pink poster board and wide tip marker, made a sign and paced in front of the pool builder’s office.

My daughters were worried for my physical safety when they heard what I had done. So I haven’t gone back out again. But the poster is in my car and, if the weather permits, protesting might just be on my agenda this week.

Participate in Art in the Park

It’s funny – and a little bit creepy – that Facebook and Google know what I am interested in and present opportunities for me to participate in events or buy items based on those interests. Is that SEO? Are those cookies? Is it hocus pocus? Whatever it is, I kept seeing notification on Facebook about Art in the (Tom Mays/Franklin Mountains) Park. I took the bait and registered.

We participants met with a park ranger on the west side of the mountain on a Wednesday afternoon. The event was advertised as ‘kid-friendly’; as a result, I was the only adult participant. The others were elementary aged children with their parents and grandparents. The wind was fierce, with gusts that blew our paints and glasses of water about like feathers. Spent a very quick hour painting, while trying to keep everything from blowing away. But I really enjoyed myself.

Table for One

A few days before PC was scheduled to fly home from Washington, I had a hankering for a salad and beer. Decided to walk up to Wing Daddy’s for dinner. Took along my Kindle in order to read a chapter of It’s Never Too Late to Begin Again and my memoir notebook to write in. Asked for an out-of-the-way table and was seated in a corner close to the bar. Completely enjoyed my happy hour Shock Top beer and my Uptown salad with grilled chicken. Read and wrote and watched basketball on the TV above my table. Walked home before it got completely dark.

My Take-Away

You might be asking how these 3 activities made me a better version of me. And that’s a good question. To which I would respond:

Closed doors began to open. The protesting introduced me to more families who have had issues with their Silver Springs pool. Misery loves company. Ha! And something got Silver Springs’ attention because they came out to my house last week to reinspect the pool. It is still a mess as I type this, however.

You sharpen unused skills. My painting ‘talents’ are rusty and primitive but so were the art supplies I was given to use. And yet, I still painted!

You can laugh in fear’s face. Or eat in fear’s face. It is scary for me to go somewhere like Wing Daddy’s alone. The clientele on a this weekday late afternoon in March was mostly men watching basketball with other men. When I was younger, I would have been terrified of being hit on. But that never happens any more, for the good and the bad, so I didn’t have that concern. I was tucked into a corner where the waitress didn’t see me so I had to flag her down – kind of uncomfortable. But the rest of my date with myself went well. And boy, did that beer taste good.

Your Turn

What have you done recently to stretch yourself beyond the familiar, daily routine of life? Won’t you share by linking up a related blog post below?

A 30 year-old me would never have done any of these things. Well, possibly the protesting. Certainly not the other activities. So maybe stepping outside my comfort zone is an acquired skill? But whatever your age, I would compel you to try something that makes you s t r e t c h in this shiny new month of April. Then come back to tell us about it!

Thank you for spending a few minutes here with me. Kick your April off with the best day!

Hugs and kisses,

Get Updates

Comments

Oh dear, what a awfull issues with the pool. And in the meanwhile you can t still enjoy the pool? Does it have to be finished? I stepped out of my comfort zone last Friday. I cycled alone to the city and shopped for a few hours. I was to tired to have lunch at a terrace afterwards but it was good for my confidance! I think you can be brave at yourself!

I am so proud of you to wear tennies with your gray pant suit and to cycle into town and lunch alone!!! Good for you! Thank you for linking up with me.

Our pool is usable but just breaks our heart to go outside and get in it only to face all the issues we have glaring back at us. The deck is the biggest problem remaining. It is cracked in 30+ places. And we worry about the plaster. But I am looking forward to this time next month when I can begin swimming my laps!!

I can’t believe you still have issues with the pool and I am so sorry for that! Look at you protesting!! I would be a little worried about your safety too, but I am sure you are so mad and disappointed! Making 2 new friends sounds lovely and I have been considering some ‘self help’ books (ha!) that I normally wouldn’t read lately. I want to get them on audio, which will be new for me too!

Just look at you – not just taking bad service without fighting for justice – that’s so brave of you (but please be careful in future of doing something like that on your own!)
How lovely that you were the only adult in the art session – I wonder if that made the whole thing even more relaxing? I’m amazed you managed to get any paint on paper with those gusts of wind!
I haven’t eaten alone in a restaurant for many a year, if I’m out and hungry I usually just head for home – maybe I should copy you and use it as an excuse to do some people watching!

You know, I think being the only adult in the art in the park did make it more relaxing! Hadn’t thought of that, but I think you are on to something. If you try eating out alone…or anything else beyond your comfort zone, please write it up and share for my next link-up on 04.30. I am trying to grow this series because I truly believe we can inspire one another to stretch.

I think I need to go eat at a restaurant alone! I used to do it semi-frequently on my lunch break, but I haven’t in quite some time. Better check the April budget and see if I can!

I’m proud of you for protesting! I’m a total keyboard warrior, so I would’ve blasted all of their social media pages but not been brave enough to actually show my face. Kudos to you and hope you see a resolution from it!

Hi Leslie! I’m fairly new to your blog so I didn’t know about the pool issues–but good for you for not just letting it slide. I agree that standing outside by yourself was a bit daring…but again, Good for You! And I’ll bet someone was paying attention. Have you also put reviews about the company online? That’s something I do anytime I am faced with something like that. And while I have been out to eat by myself it has been a long while. Again, that is something that empowers us I think. I’ve been a big fan of Julia Roberts and read most of her books. I’m a HUGE fan of morning pages–but those Artist’s Dates–not so much. You have inspired me!!! Can’t wait to see what you do next. ~Kathy

Have added your blog to my Bloglovin’ Feed. I struggle to get all of the blogs I follow visited, though. Please consider writing a Comfort Zone post for April. Anything you do might inspire someone else!! Even the Artist Dates, ha!! Which are a struggle for me, too. But Morning Pages are a good habit now.

Well you go girl! You took the bull by the horns this month (and I can’t wait to see what else you did that deserves it’s own post or two!). Holding a sign in silent protest takes guts – especially when you’re alone and eating at a restaurant does too! Good for you! I love that you were the only adult painting with the kids – I bet others wish they could but they thought they had to watch their kids! You are inspiring – we definitely grow when we step outside of our comfort zone!
xo,
Kellyann

Hi Leslie,
Yes, you did step out of the comfort zone in some real ways. I loved the part where you had a date with yourself…and I can totally relate that I could do that now, but would NEVER had done it in my 20s or 30s. Something about life experience makes it ok…that and I just don’t care much what other’s think of me. I was so introverted before – not now!
Be safe in your protesting!

Oh, I could never ever have eaten alone in a restaurant in my earlier years either. Wonderful how we get very brave with age. I am still pretty introverted in many ways but have more confidence. I like myself better now, too. Wore a tee yesterday that read “Fall in love with yourself”. Wish I had done that years ago.

Leslie – Love the fact you took that art class and went out to eat by yourself. Yes, both would be out of my comfort zone also! I just signed up for a Yoga Hike… but it’s with a friend. So not really far out of comfort zone, but should be fun. As Kathy said, I struggle with Julia’s recommended artist dates and your two have inspired me to rethink and do some this spring.

YOGA hike sounds fabulous!! Please, please think of writing a post and linking up with me for April’s Comfort Zone on 04.30. Would love for you to inspire others. The artist dates are tough but perhaps we are overthinking them? A trip to a hobby store? Looking at fabric? Doodling? Taking photos? Maybe we could count those and similar activities??

Leslie — Good for you! Each of the things you mentioned would have definitely been stepping out of my comfort zone and you rocked them! Way to go! I went to a new book club for the first time and didn’t know a single person there. For me, that was stepping outside my comfort zone. Not only did i survive, but I enjoyed it!

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Comment

Name *

Email *

Website

Participate in this conversation via emailGet only replies to your comment, the best of the rest, as well as a daily recap of all comments on this post. No more than a few emails daily, which you can reply to/unsubscribe from directly from your inbox.

Hello

In what felt like the blink of an eye, I have gone from full-time wife to my sweet husband, hands-on mom to my two beautiful daughters and elementary school librarian to a retired, empty nester with lots of time on my hands. Join me on my journey to rediscover who I am. Glad you are here...